Guernsey’s top committee spends £71,000 on travel

Guernsey’s most senior political committee has spent £71,000 on travel since it came into office in 2020.

Alongside this, Policy and Resources (P&R) has spent £21,000 on travel related expenses including airport parking, taxis and meals.

The figures have been released following questions from Deputy Chris Le Tissier.

P&R said publishing “this level of detail” on travel expenses is “not a good use of staff resources or taxpayers’ money”.

In its response to the questions P&R said putting this data together had been “time consuming” including 35 hours of work from an officer in the external relations team.

“The estimated officers’ time across the Policy & Resources Committee to generate this information response is just under 80 hours. In order to meet the Rule 14 timelines, which the Bailiff agreed to extend to 30 clear days.”

P&R has suggested publishing the detail of long-haul flights and “any instances where travel expenditure has clearly exceeded £1,500 per person.”

Part of P&R’s role as a committee includes “defending and promoting the island’s interests, developing economic links and promoting international trading relationships as well as asserting Guernsey’s international identity.”

The most expensive trip paid for by Policy and Resources was to Dubai for COP-28 and was taken by Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Lindsay de Sausmarez, alongside two civil servants, costing £12,235.70.